Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes Is Mature, Controversial, Says Kojima

The main developer is afraid the game might never be launched

Hero look

The development team at Kojima Productions and publisher Konami plan to make the next core game in the Metal Gear Solid series the most mature of the franchise, tackling a number of themes that can prove quite controversial.

Hideo Kojima, the well-known developer who created the series, tells VG247 that, “I’m going to be treading a lot of taboos, and a lot of mature themes that really are quite risky.”

He adds, “Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to release the game. Even if I did release the game, maybe it wouldn’t sell because it’s all too much. But as a creator I want to take that risk. As a producer it’s my job to try and sell the game, but I’m approaching this project from the point of view as a creator. I’m prioritising creativity over sales.”

The fact that Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is in development means that Konami trusts that the game can be launched, but it will be interesting to see what kind of mature themes he plans to tackle.

The series started life with a deep anti-war message and the stealth mechanics were set to be a comment on the way that most video games approached violent conflict.

Since then, Metal Gear has evolved in order to also tackle the effects of technology on humans and the way that an aging hero can remain relevant in a changing world.

Kojima Productions has not yet offered solid information on Ground Zeroes, but it seems that the game will feature a much changed main character.

The entire experience will use an open-world structure and will allow players to explore a number of side quests as they progress through a central narrative.

It seems that Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is set to launch on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox 720.